Profiles of new IEBC nominees

By Newsflash Team

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, President William Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon, a former Turkana County Attorney, to chair the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The nomination marks a significant step toward resolving a two-year impasse surrounding the reconstitution of the electoral body.

If Parliament approves the list, the seven-member commission will manage Kenya’s electoral affairs for a single, non-renewable six-year term. Below are the profiles of the nominees:

Chairperson: Erastus Edung Ethekon

Ethekon, 48, previously served as Turkana County’s Attorney from 2018 to 2024. He currently holds positions as a consulting partner at Northern Consulting Solution and at his own law firm, E. Ethekon & Co. Advocates. His earlier career includes notable work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he served from 2007 to 2015 in program management, and later as a program adviser at the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa and the African Union in Addis Ababa.

Academically accomplished, Ethekon holds three master’s degrees: one in Oil, Gas and Energy Law from the University of Derby (UK), another in Project Management from the University of Liverpool, and a third in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies from Jaume I University in Spain. He earned his law degree from the University of Nairobi in 2001 and completed his postgraduate diploma at the Kenya School of Law. He also holds a certificate in international human rights treaties implementation from the University of Nottingham.

In 2018, he was appointed chief technical adviser for area-based development programming under the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Commissioner nominees

1. Ann Njeri Nderitu

Ms. Nderitu has been the Registrar of Political Parties since 2018, also serving as the office’s CEO and chief accounting officer. With over two decades of experience in public administration and electoral governance, she is widely respected in the field.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Education (English and Literature), a Master’s in Linguistics, a diploma in Public Administration, and an honorary doctorate in Corporate Governance. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organisational Leadership. Her accolades include three presidential honors: Moran and Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear, and the Trailblazer Award for Women Leadership and Inclusion.

2. Dr Moses Alutalala Mukhwana

Dr. Mukhwana is an advocate of the High Court and founder of Alutalala Mukhwana & Co. Advocates. He holds a Doctorate in Global Management and an MBA from SMA Swiss Management Academy, along with a law degree from the University of Nairobi.

He specializes in commercial, civil, and criminal litigation, and regularly contributes to public discourse on governance. He is also a council member and chair of the Audit and Governance Committee at South Eastern Kenya University.

3. Mary Karen Sorobit

A lawyer by training, Ms. Sorobit graduated from the University of Nairobi and obtained her postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law. She currently practices at Robson Harris & Co. Advocates and previously worked at the Jubilee Party Secretariat from 2017 to 2021.

She also served on the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board and the Law Society of Kenya’s disciplinary committee. Her areas of expertise include ethics, legal compliance, dispute resolution, and legal audits.

4. Hassan Noor Hassan

A seasoned public administrator, Mr. Noor held the role of Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministries of Sports, Culture, Heritage, and Technical Education under President Uhuru Kenyatta. He was a candidate for Mandera Governor in the 2022 elections.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s in International Studies and Diplomacy from Washington International University. Beginning his career as a District Officer Cadet, he rose through the ranks to become a Provincial Commissioner. Notably, he was involved in supervising Namibia’s first independent elections.

5. Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol

Prof. Aduol served as Vice-Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya between 2013 and 2023 and now teaches at the School of Surveying and Spatial Science at the same institution.

He holds a Doctorate in Geodesy from the University of Stuttgart, a Master’s in Economics from the University of Nairobi, and degrees in Surveying and Photogrammetry. His previous experience includes working with the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission and consulting for UNDP.

6. Fahima Araphat Abdallah

At just 32, Ms. Abdallah has a notable public service record, having held the position of County Executive Committee Member in Lamu County across several key dockets—Lands, Infrastructure, Finance, Trade, and Agriculture—between 2017 and 2022.

She currently serves on the Lamu County Assembly Service Board and is involved in training through the Institute of Corporate Governance and the Africa Institute of Devolution. Her qualifications include a Master’s in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Kenyatta University, and a diploma in Investment Advice from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (UK).